The Meadowlands' weekly qualifying session brought out some big names
and some three-year-old pacers eligible to Mohawk Racetrack's $1.5 million Pepsi North America Cup.
In what was his first charted line of 2009, 'Cup'-eligible Red River Hanover colt Drop Red finished a half-length back in second for driver Brian Sears and trainer Robert Horowitz in Race 4. The dash was won by Whoyoucallingafool, who stopped the clock in 1:55. A total of four Cup-eligible colts took part in the race.
Drink Up, a Cup-eligible Western Terror colt, finished third in Race 4 after taking as outside trip. He finished more than three lengths back, pacing in 1:55.4 for driver Ryan Anderson and trainer Joe Anderson.
Cup-eligible Overwhelming Share, a bay Art Major colt that has yet to make a pari-mutuel start, finished fourth in Race 4, pacing in 1:55.4 for driver Cat Manzi and conditioner Chris Ryder. Western Avenue, a Cup-eligible Western Ideal colt, finished ninth after running in the backstretch.
Super Ending, a Cup-eligible I Am A Fool colt, was scheduled to qualify in Race 5, but did not contest the dash.
In what was her second charted line of the '09 season, millionaire Bettors Delight lass Southwind Tempo took an off-the-pace approach in Race 7 and just missed nailing the finish line first. In rein to Tim Tetrick for trainer Ross Croghan, Southwind Tempo finished one and a half lengths back in second, pacing her mile in 1:56.1.
Southwind Tempo's performance was followed up by a strong, open-length victory by Thong in 1:54. Driven by Andy Miller for trainer Erv Miller, the four-year-old Western Hanover mare was making her second qualifying performance of the year.
In what her first charted line since July, 2008, Buck I St Pat qualified in Race 11, trotting to victory in 1:55.3 for driver Tim Tetrick.